Alarm for refrigerator drip-pans.



PATBNTED MAR. 1,1904

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ALARM FOR REFRIGERATOR DRIP PANS.

. APPLIOATIOK FILED JULY 17-, 1903. 7

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No. 753,799. PATBN'IED MAR. 1, 1904.

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ALARM-FOR REFRIGERATOR DRIP FANS...

APPLICATION FILED JULY 17, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented March 1, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALARM F OR REFRIGERATOR DRIP-FANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,799; dated March 1, 1904. i

Application filed July 17, 1903. Serial No. 166,021. (No model.) I I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANIsLAs S. LAPOINTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarms for Refrigerator Drip-Pans, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to drip-pans for refrigerators, and has for its object the provision of a pan of peculiar construction and in connection with said pan an alarm or signal which will direct attention to the fact that the pan is full and must be emptied to prevent overflow.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a partially-covered drip-pan having a compartment in which the alarm or signal mechanism is located.

Other objects of the invention will be hereinafter stated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section of a refrigerator drip-pan involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, parts being in section. Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 1 of a modification; and Fig. 1 is a plan view, partially in section, of said modification.

Like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 denotes a drip-pan of a refrigerator or other device which is preferably covered for about half of its area, as at 6. Rigid with the partial cover 6 is a compartment 7, having a hinged or other form of closure .8. In the bottom of this compartment is fitted a sleeve or thimble 9, in which is mounted for free vertical play the stem 10 of a float 11, nuts 12 on a threaded portion of said stem serving to limit the downward movement of said floa and stem.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, mounted on top of the partial cover 6 'of the pan are brackets 13, between which an ordinary rectangular form of dry battery 14 may be secured against displacement; Projecting from one of the poles of the battery is a contact-strip Designated in a general way by 16 is an ordinary form of electrically-actuated alarm hell or signal. Binding-posts 17 and 18 and the usual wires 19 and 20 place the bell-magnets in communication withthe-batteryl This communication is normally interrupted; but

when the water rises in the pan 5 and the float in danger of overflow.

Mechanical means may be substituted fo the electrical devices shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and said mechanical means are illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and comprise an ordinary essecured in the compartment 7 of the cover 6. An arm 22, projecting from the escapement,

is operated to receive the stem 10 of the float 11, and when the float rises the spring-actuated mechanism 21 will be set in motion, and

the bell 23, mounted on a bracket of the base 24 of said mechanically-operated mechanism, will be struck by the hammer 25 to sound the alarm.

Other means may be substituted for the electrical and mechanical devices described without departure from the invention.

By providing a drip pan with a partial cover, as at 6, and by mounting the alarm mechanism upon said cover within the compartment 7 a compact and serviceable construction results, andwhen the pan is full and the alarm has been sounded to indicate such fact and it is desired to empty the same spilling of the liquid contained therein is prevented by said cover, and when the pan is tipped the parts in either form described are held rigidly in place without danger of detachment.

By opening the cover 8 the simple mechanism in either form described isfdisclosed to view and may be readily adjusted or otherwise changed should it be out of order or should it be desired to substitute one battery for another. I

Other forms of batteries may be employed for that shown, and the float may be connect- 'capement-movement 21, mounted on a base 5 15, located over the stem 10 of the float 11. ed in various ways with said battery to estab- I O0 lish a circuit when the pan is full. The shape of the pan may be varied to suit the requirements, the invention not being limited to the circular form illustrated.

Having thus described my invention, What by the float for actuating said alarm mechanism.

3. In a refrigerator drip-pan, the combination, With the pan proper having a partial cover, and a compartment extending from said cover, said compartment having a closure; of alarm mechanism located Within the compartment and upon said partial cover; a float Within the drip-pan, and having a stem passing through the partial cover and into the compartment; and means controlled by the float for actuating the alarm.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

STANISLAS S. LAPOINTE.

Witnesses:

CHAS. F. SCHMELZ, FRANCES E. BLODGETT. 

